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So it looks like Tokyopop, the infamous licencing company that brought us our terrible translation of Initial D in North America, announced that they're coming back to the manga publishing scene after closing up shop nearly 5 years ago. Pretty surprising that they're coming back and apparently targeting "hidden gems".

Seems like they're attempting to become what a few other publishers already are in an attempt to find their place in the market, considering that they're never going to be able to stand level against the likes of Viz again. Vertical Inc is one of those "we cater to genre titles" publishers, and they already took some of Tokyopop's lost licenses.

If they're finally willing to stop pushing amateur authors from the US and actually promote Japanese products like their name suggests, I'll take a look.

Here's to hoping they'll finish Initial D. I was actually considering importing everything after Vol. 33 just to finish my collection, but I may wait after this news.

There was an interview with the founder of Tokyopop recently where he implied that they aren't able to secure any of their old licenses, especially those of Kodansha who has a subsidiary in North America releasing their manga, and that they are focusing on getting whatever is left from smaller publishers.

Kodansha isn't handing out many licenses. Vertical got a few from the Great Teacher Onizuka franchise, but that's about it.

Not surprising since they're releasing their stuff themselves in North America. I'm a little bummed out that they didn't pick up Initial D or Getbackers and either continued it from where Tokyopop left off or to re-do the whole thing from the beginning.